Dynamic balance board

ABSTRACT

A dynamic balance board is described that incorporates a means for providing objective measurements on a user&#39;s dynamic balance. The balance board comprises a top board, a rocker base and a plurality of force sensitive transducers strategically positioned on the rocker base. When a user stands on the top board the rocker base permits the oscillation of the top board about an equilibrium position. The force sensitive switches then provide output information regarding the angle of the top board and the rotational movement of the balance board relative to the equilibrium position. By monitoring the output information the dynamic balance board provides an objective measurement of the user&#39;s ability to balance on the top board.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of balance boards. Inparticular, it relates to a balance board for the automated measurementof dynamic balance.

[0002] Wobble or rocker style balance boards are commonly used byphysiotherapists in the rehabilitation of patients with a variety ofdiagnoses and within a range of clinical specialisms. Such boards arepurported to improve dynamic balance, range of movement, co-ordination,proprioception (joint position sense) and confidence. They comprise anon-flexing piece of plywood oh a rocker base that provide approximately10-20 degrees of tilt. If the range of motion over which this tilt isexhibited is 180 degrees then the board is referred to in the prior artas a rocker board. If such a range is 360 degrees then the board isrefereed to as a wobble board, and as such, wobble boards offer agreater challenge to a patient.

[0003] Wobble and rocker boards are routinely used for patients withankle and knee ligament injuries to improve a patient's proprioceptiveability. They also help increase the available range of movement of theankle and foot so improving movement and a patient's perception ofstiffness. A third area where such devices are commonly employed is inhelping patients with balance problems arising as a result ofneurological, orthopaedic problems or normal ageing.

[0004] Such devices are suitable for use across the whole spectrum ofpatients. For example they may-be employed in the rehabilitation ofchildren or athletes as well as to improve independent mobility in theelderly.

[0005] Wobble and rocker boards are popular, because they are cheap,portable easy to use and are understood by both clinicians and patientsalike. They are designed to be used independently by patients and areeasily graded so as to progress difficulty. However, the devices arelimited when in comes to the provision of an objective measurement on apatient's progress. There is an increasing movement for physiotherapiststo formally audit the outcome of their work with patients by showingwhat progress has been made. Although there are some balance monitorsystems available on the market they do not directly measure performancein a manner familiar to the patient. Also such devices tend not to beportable and are considerably more expensive that traditional wobble orrocker boards.

[0006] It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to providea balance board that incorporates a means for providing objectivemeasurements on a user's dynamic balance, thereby permitting anobjective measurement of progress to be made.

[0007] A further object of an aspect of the present invention is toprovide a balance board capable of producing dynamic balancemeasurements that is highly portable and cost effective to produce.

[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a dynamicbalance board comprising a top board, a rocking means and one or moredetection means, whereby the rocking means permits the oscillation ofthe top board about an equilibrium position and the detection meansprovides output information regarding the angle of the top boardrelative to the equilibrium position.

[0009] Preferably the detection means provides output informationregarding the rotation of the dynamic balance board relative to anequilibrium position

[0010] Most preferably the output information of the detection means isbinary, whereby the output is off when the top board is substantiallyhorizontal and on when the top board rotates through a predeterminedangle.

[0011] Preferably the predetermined angle is determined by the locationof the detection means on the rocking means.

[0012] Preferably the rocking means comprises a dome.

[0013] Preferably the dome is substantially hemispherical.

[0014] Preferably the detection means comprises one or more forcesensitive switches.

[0015] Preferably the force sensitive switches comprise activetransducers mounted on the dome at predetermined locations, whereby whena force, greater than a critical magnitude, is applied to the transducera resultant output voltage from the transducer is produced.

[0016] Preferably the transducers are mounted on the dome in asubstantially radial manner.

[0017] Most preferably transducers on different radii are located on thedome at predetermined latitudes, defined by the diameter of a horizontalchord of the dome, whereby when the top board tilts through thepredetermined angle a force applied to the transducer is greater thanthe critical magnitude.

[0018] Preferably the output signals from the transducers aretransmitted to a recording and processing means that provides a timedependent profile of the angle of the top board. Optionally therecording and processing means provides a time dependent profile of therotational movement of the dynamic balance board.

[0019] Preferably the dynamic balance board comprises a biofeedbackdevice capable of relaying information regarding the user to therecording and processing means.

[0020] Optionally the recording and processing means is a microcomputer.Alternatively the recording and processing means is a computer.

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation of a dynamic balance board;

[0023]FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom elevation of a rocker base of thedynamic balance board of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 3 illustrates a top elevation of a force sensitive switch ofthe dynamic balance board of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation of the force sensitive switchof the dynamic balance board of FIG. 1; and

[0026]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the rocker base ofthe dynamic balance board of FIG. 1.

[0027] Referring initially to FIG. 1 a dynamic balance board 1 isgenerally depicted and can be seen to comprise a top board 2 and arocker base 3 in the shape of a hemisphere.

[0028]FIG. 2 presents a bottom view of the rocker base 3. As can beobserved the force sensitive switches 4 are mounted on the rocker base3. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show further detail of the force sensitive switches4. Each switch 4 can be seen to comprise an active transducer 5 and anelectrical connector 6. The force sensitive switches 4 operate in abinary mode. When no external force is applied to the active transducer5 the force sensitive switch 4 remains in an off position. However, theapplication of a force to the active transducer 5, greater than acritical magnitude, activates the force sensitive switch 4.

[0029] With the force sensitive switches 4 mounted on the rocker base 3they operate in conjunction-with the angle of the top board 2. When thetop board 2 is substantially horizontal the force sensitive switches 4are all off and so provide no output. However, when the top board 2tilts more than an angle as determined by the location of the forceactive switches on the rocker base (for example 10 degrees relative tohorizontal) a force of sufficient magnitude is applied to the activetransducer 5 so activating the switch 4.

[0030] The output from each force sensitive switch 4 is connected to anelectronic comparator (not shown) that produce TTL(transistor-transistor logic) pulses that form the digital input for anelectronic display (not shown). The period of time that any forcesensitive switch 4 is activated can then be calculated, hence the periodof time that a patient spends at 10 degrees or more from the horizontalequilibrium position can be recorded. The time and direction of tilt canthen be expressed as a percentage of the overall test duration,therefore producing a dynamic measurement of a patient's ability tobalance the board 1.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the rocker base 3is populated with force sensitive switches 4 located at two separatediameters on the rocker base 3.

[0032] The mounting of the force sensitive switches 4 at a seconddiameter provides means for taking secondary angular measurements of thetilt angle of the top board, as described previously. However, in thisembodiment an switches corresponding to what diameter the switch islocated. Therefore, employment of this second embodiment providesgreater information on the angle of tilt and the time spent at theseangles.

[0033] Additional force sensitive switches 4 can easily be incorporatedon the rocker base 3. These additional switches 4 would increases theaccuracy of the dynamic balance profile obtained since the discretedirections in which the angle of tilt is measured would increase.Therefore, the dynamic balance board 1 could readily be employed toprovide information regarding rotational movement as well as thatrelating to angular tilt.

[0034] A yet further embodiment includes the incorporation ofbiofeedback devices to the dynamic balance board in order to allowpatients to self-monitor their own progress. Such direct feedback hasbeen shown to improve patient recovery as motivation levels to continuewith exercise are increased.

[0035] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides abalance board that incorporates a means for providing objectivemeasurements on a user's dynamic balance.

[0036] A second advantage of the present invention is that it is smalland portable, not requiring a separate computer to record data, therebymaking it easy for user's to deploy and store.

[0037] Further modifications and improvements may be incorporatedwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A dynamic balance board comprising a top board, a rocking means andone or more detection means, wherein the rocking means permits theoscillation of the top board about an equilibrium position and thedetection means provides output information regarding the angle of thetop board relative to the equilibrium position.
 2. A dynamic balanceboard according to claim 1 wherein the detection means provides outputinformation regarding the rotation of the dynamic balance relative to anequilibrium position.
 3. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1wherein the output information of the detection is binary, such that theoutput is off when the top board is substantially horizontal and on whenthe top board rotates through a predetermined angle.
 4. A dynamicbalance board according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined angle isdetermined by the location of the detection means on the rocking means.5. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 wherein the rockingmeans comprises a dome.
 6. A dynamic balance board according to claim 5wherein the dome is substantially hemispherical.
 7. A dynamic balanceboard according to claim 1 wherein the detection means comprises one ormore force sensitive switches.
 8. A dynamic balance board according toclaim 7 wherein the rocking means comprises a dome and the forcesensitive switches comprise transducers mounted on the dome atpredetermined locations, whereby when a force, greater than a criticalmagnitude, is applied to the transducers a resultant output voltage fromthe transducer is produced.
 9. A dynamic balance board according toclaim 8 wherein the transducers are mounted on the dome in asubstantially radial manner.
 10. A dynamic balance board according toclaim 8 wherein transducers on different radii are located on the domeat predetermined latitudes, defined by the diameter of a horizontalchord of the dome, whereby when the top board tilts through thepredetermined angle, a force applied to the transducer is greater thanthe critical magnitude.
 11. A dynamic balance board according to claim 8wherein the transducers provide output signals which are transmitted toa recording and processing means that provides a time dependent profileof the angle of the top board.
 12. A dynamic balance board according toclaim 8 wherein the transducers provide output signals which aretransmitted to-the recording and processing means that provides a timedependent profile of the rotational movement of the dynamic balanceboard.
 13. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 furthercomprising a biofeedback device capable of relaying informationregarding the use to the recording and processing means.
 14. A dynamicbalance board according to claim 11 wherein the recording and processingmeans is a microcomputer.
 15. A dynamic balance board according to claim11 wherein the recording and processing means is a computer.